Novell Inc. has come up with a faster way to deliver Linux hardware drivers, and driver updates, to Linux users. With the new driver process, users can get drivers independently of kernel updates, and vendors can more easily develop and deliver device drivers for Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise products.

In addition, the new Linux process enables hardware and software vendors to provide their products' Linux drivers and driver updates to customers directly, while still being integrated with SUSE's YaST operating system setup and configuration tool.

The new process is simply another way for us to help customers run their businesses reliably and cost effectively," Kurt Garloff, head Linux architect for Novell, said in a statement.

"Working with the open-source community and our hardware and software partners, and welcoming the participation of other Linux distributors, we are allowing customers to efficiently obtain needed drivers independent of our SUSE Linux Enterprise release cycles," Garloff explained.

"We will continue to support third parties delivering open source drivers to kernel.org for release directly with our Linux products, but this new process fills the driver gap between releases that can be critical to customer and partner success."